CBD and Dogs (and Other Pets) by Kat Merryfield

As the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids become more widely accepted, a similar movement is taking place in the veterinary field. In 2017, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) voted to facilitate research opportunities for veterinary uses of cannabis.

The AVMA notes the growing body of anecdotal evidence supporting the use of cannabis for pets for conditions like anxiety, seizures and arthritis. In dogs, cats, and even horses, owners have seen their pets’ quality of life improve when using cannabis.

Pets and The Endocannabinoid System

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a naturally occurring chemical compound known as a cannabinoid. This group of dozens of compounds is named after cannabis, the plant that produces them.

In humans, CBD interacts with receptors that are found in tissues including the brain, organs, connective tissues and immune cells, by behaving like chemicals that are naturally produced in the body. This system of receptors and chemicals is called the endocannabinoid system – and it’s not unique to humans.

Every vertebrate on Earth has an endocannabinoid system. In humans, we know that this system performs a huge variety of functions, like:

Minimizing pain, damage and inflammation when we are injured

Impacting our moods and emotions

Helping our healthy cells to renew themselves

The similarities between the cannabinoid systems in humans and our pets gives us good reason to think CBD will provide similar benefits to other animals. While we await confirmation from scientific studies, though, more and more pet owners are describing the ways that CBD benefits their pets.

Is Cannabis Harmful to Pets?

You will sometimes find Cannabis sativa on lists of plants that are toxic for pets. This is because THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, can be harmful to pets in large doses.

For dogs in particular, there have been a few fatalities due to THC toxicity aftereating baked goods containing marijuana. Some vets caution against using medical marijuana for pets for this reason.

CBD, on the other hand, does not seem to be toxic for pets, or to have any negative side effects. The CBD isolate that we use in our Pet Care product is derived from hemp, not marijuana, and it doesn’t contain THC. That means there is no risk of THC toxicity – and our CBD will not get your pet high.

How to Give Your Pet CBD

But because pets can’t use vaporizers or hold drops under their tongues, pet owners are usually limited to using edible products for their pets. While edibles might be the right choice for some situations, there are some downsides to edibles. They tend to have lower bioavailability than some other forms of CBD products, and edibles can take a while to reach the bloodstream. Furthermore, there can be ingredients in edible CBD products that make them unsuitable for pets.

Kat’s Naturals Pet Care

We created Pet Care, an ear drop formulated for easy administration and quick relief, as a better way to share the goodness of CBD with your pets. A few drops in the ear can improve your pet’s energy, digestion and skin health, as well as reducing pain and anxiety.

We formulate our products with the highest quality CBD isolate on the market, so you can give your pet precise doses without unwanted added ingredients.